Blank forming apparatus including blank turning mechanisms



H. KOLIP BLANK FORMING Amzm'ws INCLUDING BLANK TURNIN MECHANISMS April 14, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 9, 1954' VT A m s U H April 14,- 1959 A H. KOLIP 2,881,453

BLANK FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING BLANK TURNING MECHANISMS Filed-Jul -e, 1954. 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTOR. HUBER-r K'ou April 14, 1959 H. KOLIP BLANK FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING BLANK TURNING. MECHANISMS 5 snem's-sneei 5 Filed July 9,

INVENTOR. Husz'n-r KOI-IP BYv Apnl 14, 1959 H. KOLIP 2,881,453

BLA K FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING BLANK 1 TURNING MECHANISMS Filed July 9, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet -4 INVENTOR.

HUBERT KOLIP ATTORNEYS A ril 14, 1959 2,881,453

- H. KOLIP BLANK FORMING P ATUS IN DING BLANK TUR \I ECHANIS Filed. July 9. 1954 r/ry r N I\ INVENTOR.

HUBER-T Koup 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO R N EYS United States Patent ()ffice 2,881,453 Patented Apr. 14, 1959 BLANK FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING BLANK TURNING MECHANISMS Hubert Kolip, Wethersfield, Conn.,

assignments, to The Dalemill Company, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut assignor, by mesne Waterbury,

My present invention relates to an improved machine for making nut blanks from wire stock and as shown is embodied in a machine of the type known as a dial forging press wherein the wire' stock in the from of slugs is fed into the machine, turned into a blank and transferred successively to various stations for receiving different forming operations and is finally ejected as a finished blank.

The novel features of this invention relate more particularly to the blank turnover mechanism and its combination with known types of holding and forming mechanisms wherein a blank is carried by a transfer device in intermittent steps from one forming station to another forming station and wherein during one of the intermittent stationary periods the blank while still in the transfer means has its position reversed 180.

With this invention it is possible to use tools for performing the same or different operations on a blank before and after reversal of the blank in the transfer means; however, the turnover mechanism of my present invention is particularly adapted for use in a dial forging press wherein my invention contemplates the incorporation of a blank turnover device synchronized with the press operating mechanism to-reverse the blank position within the same holder during one of the intermittent stationary periods and while the blank is between forming operations.

In previously known blank reversing machines, the reversing mechanism cooperated with the blank holder and removed the blank from a holding means or pocket, the blank being reversed while it is out of the pocket and then replaced in an adjacent pocket. Some of these known reversing mechanisms may be seen in United States Patent 2,128,186, 2,542,864 and 2,544,218. Several factors that present difficulties are present in these former blank reversing mechanisms; First, the blank must be removed from the transfer and forming holder and then replaced, an operation wherein the possibility always exists that the blank may jam or be cocked when returning it to the holder, resulting in machine failure, shut-down and loss of time. Second, during the period between removal and replacement, the blank is being passed through an arc of 180, which movement develops a centrifugal force tending to displace the blank from the reversing means, and if such an event occurs, the machine may jam or may attempt to perform a forming operation on an empty holding means or pocket.

The present invention has eliminated the possibility of both of the aforementioned occurrences by structurally associating the blank turnover head with respect to the blank holder pocket in the transfer means so the reversing operation is accomplished while the blank remains within the confines of the pocket and by so constructing the turnover head to bracket and confine the blank, during the turnover operation, within a chamber similar in shape and size to the nut blank. These structural features eliminate the possibility of jamming occasioned by removal and replacement of the blank and also eliminates any v of operation and further enables a savings in possibility of the turnover mechanism flipping or tossing the blank out of the machine by centrifugal force.

In the improved machine, chamfering and burr removal, which are separate and expensive operations in the production of punched nut blanks, are accomplished during the forming process of the improved cold swaged blanks. The not turnover operation in combination with the blank forming apparatus as described in United States Patent No. 2,657,403 has greatly improved the quality of the nut because, by using .the turn-around,.both the top face and the bottom face of the nut are formed in tthe die cavity. This enables the top of the blank as well as the bottom to receive a well formed chamfer in a female die thereby requiring only a substantially fiat male punch in both the second and third stations to give the.

In a blank forming apparatus of the prior art combi-' nation shown in the United States Patent No. 2,657,403

the finished condition of the edges of the surface formed.

by the punch depended a great deal on the accuracy of the punch and die line-up. With this in mind it will be seen that another advantage of the turn-around is an in crease in the life of the punches and dies because a greater clearance between the punches and dies of the second and third stations may be allowed which will re-.

duce wear. Another advantage is simplification of the female die at the third station in that it has a plain flat.

bottom surface. This decreases tooling costs in the initial forming of the die and also decreases the number of surface joining lines to wear and be deformed in the die.

The present invention, therefore, provides an efficient and economical method and the necessary apparatus for forming an improved nut blank from round wire stock. As used herein the expression round wire stock isintended to cover wire stock of non-polygonal cross section. This has been accomplished by using a conventional dial press modified to receive a blank turn-around device between forming stations to allow identical operations or successive operations to be performed on opposite faces of the nut blank in the female portion of the die assembly or the die cavity of the die block. This enables a nut blank of high quality to be produced with simplicity the die and punch members through use of a similar punch face at each station.

With these and other considerations in view, it is an important object of this invention to provide a simple method for producing finished square, rectangular and odd shaped blanks from round stock.

Another object resides in the provision of apparatus for making multiple dimension blanks from slugs of round wire wherein the nut blank is reversed in its position in the nut blank transfer means of the apparatus.

A further object resides in the provision of a dial feed type press having means between two forming operation stations for turning the nut blank over. 1

A still further object resides in the provision of a novel nut blank turnover means for incorporation in the transfer means of various types of blank forming machines.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred embodiment is set forth in detail and from the appended consistent with the state of the prior art.

The preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is illustrated in the following drawings in which:

Figure l is a, plan view of the preferred dial plate, die block, die block cover plate, preforming station and turnover station arrangement;

Figure 2 is a vertical view partially in section of the turnover mechanism in relation to the press and dial taken, substantially on lines 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 2A is an enlarged fragmentary section of the turnover head assembly.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side view, showing a portion of the turnover operating mechanism taken on lines 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the turnover head and. dial sector taken through lines 4-4 of Figr Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing the turnover cylinder in an operating position;

Figures 6 and 7 are enlarged side and end views, respectively, of the stationary shaft of the ratchet mechamsm;

Figures 8 and-9 are enlarged side and end views, respectively, of the unitary gear, brake and ratchet wheel of the ratchet mechanism;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preforming station and its corresponding punch and punch holder;

Figure 11, is atfragmentary sectional view of the second forming station and its corresponding punch and punch holder;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third forming station and its corresponding punch and punch holder;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the piercingstation and its corresponding punch and punch holder;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the ejecting station;

Figure 15 is an enlarged plan view of the preforming die block;

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the preforming die block taken through lines 1616 of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the first forming punch;

Figure 18 is an enlarged fragmentary side view partially in section of the preferred punch for the second station;

Figure 19 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the preferred punch for the third station;

Figures 20 and 21 are enlarged side and end views respectively of a slug prior to entering the first station;

Figures 22 and23, are enlarged end and plan views respectively of a blank prior to entering the second station;

Figures 24 and 25 are enlarged side and plan views respectively of a blank prior to entering the third station;

Figures 26' and 27 are enlargedside and plan views respectively of a blank prior to entering the fourth station;

Figures 28 and 29 are enlarged side and plan views respectively of a blank prior to ejection.

In the present embodiment of the invention the turnover mechanism has been illustrated, by way of example, in combination with a nut blank forging or punch press substantially constructed according to the press discussed and. described in US. Letters Patent No. 2,657,403 and as further described therein, such a press in addition to manufacturing square nut blanks may be used to manufacture odd shape blanks such as those used in the manufacture of snath nuts and plier nuts.

The turnover mechanism, to be fully described hereinafter, can'be adapted to handle any. type of nut blank capable of being formed in the forging or punch press, by -makingslight modifications in the turnover head and die cover plate as-will be; apparent'from the following description of the mechanism.

General description In a forging or punch press of the preferred and illustrated type, wire stock is selected of a cross sectional size to give the desired blank thickness and is fed into the press assembly where it is roller fed through a straightening device to a cut-off station where round slugs ofan axial length slightly less than, the length of a side of the blank to be formed are sheared from the wire. This portion of the assembly is conventional and is not shown.

The details of construction of the forging or punch press, although essentially the same machine as that described and discussed in US. Patent No. 2,657,403, are illustrated and discussed in sutficient detail herein, to clearly set forth the structural relationship and cooperation between the known press mechanisms and the present invention in the novel combination of the present invention and to further clearly describe the elements of the press, requiring modification as necessitated by the addition of the turnover mechanism, and thereby resulting in a novel combination of elements having a novel mode of operation.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to Figure l, slugs shown at 40 are conveyed from the cutoff stations by conventional means (not shown) and carried in the direction of the arrow along downwardly inclined channel 42 into adjoining channel 44 in the first forming die block 46. The first forming operating, to be described hereinafter, is performed at the first forming station generally indicated at 48 and converts slugs 40 into partially formed blanks indicated as 40'. The blank is ejected from die block 46 by conventional means such as push rod 50. The recess in die block 46 is flared, as will be more fully described hereinafter, so that upon ejection by rod 50 the blank will be raised up from the die depression and pushed into channel 51 adjoining die block 46. Channel 51 is formed, by side plates 52 and 54 suitably fastened to a frame member 56 of the press by means such as screws 58. The top side of the channel 51 is partially covered by a spring plate 60 fastened to side plate 52 by suitable means such as pins 62 and screws 64. This spring plate prevents the blank from jumping out of channel 51 upon ejection from die block 46. The bottom of channel 51 is formed in part by die block 46 and in part by die shoe cover plate 66 to be more fully explained hereinafter.

From the end of channel 51 blank 40' is pushed into an adjacent holding means such as a notch or pocket indicated at 68 in the periphery of a nut blank transfer means, disclosed herein as a circular conveyor or dial and generally indicated at 70. The blank 40 is then transferred successively by dial 70 to operating stations 72, 74, 76, 78 and 80 (stations 78 and 80 not shown in Figure l) where the operations, tobe explained more fully hereinafter, are. performed.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, dial 70 is made up of a hollow cylindrical block 82 which is mounted for free rotation on a stationary shaft, 84 by means of suitable bearings 86 and 88. Stationary shaft84 is threaded into the forging press bolster 90 which is secured to the press frame (not shown). A flat ring-shaped disk 92 is sup ported on the upper surface of block 82 by suitable means such as ring 94 and bolts 96. A gear wheel 98 is fastened to the lower face of block. 82 by suitable means such as screws 100 and is turned by means of a conventional roller gear drive (not shown) which causes the dial 70 to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1. By proper adjustment of theroller gear drive and the use of conventional camming arrangements in connection therewith, dial 70 is intermittently rotatedor indexed in phase with the operating stroke of the press so that the dial advances blanks 40 from station to station during the upward movement or stroke of the, press and remains stationary during thedownward or forming stroke.

Fastened to the outer edge of disk 92 by suitable means suchas screws 102, are a plurality of removable di'al sectors 104. A blank carrying notch or pocket 68 is formed in the outer edge of each dial sector. As will be apparent, the dial sectors 104 may be interchanged with other dial sectors having a variety of notch sizes and shapes to accommodate any desired size or shape of blank.

- Referring now to Figures 2, ll-l3, the forging press bolster is shown at 90. Mounted on bolster 90 is the die shoe 106 (Figure 2) which in turn supports die blocks 108, 110 and 112 and die shoe cover plate 66. Die shoe 106 is properly located on the bolster by means of dowels 114, Figure 2. As is most clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 11-13 die shoe cover plate 66 serves to locate and hold die blocks 108, 110 and 112 in position. A flange 116 is formed at the lower edge of each die block, 108, 110 and 112. The die shoe cover 66 is undercut at 118, so that the horizontal edge of the undercut presses down on flange 116 to secure the die block in position. In addition, the die blocks are keyed to the die shoe cover by conventional'means (not shown). Die shoe cover 66 is itself "located and secured on die shoe 106 by means of clamping screws 120.

Mounted above and in proper alignment with the die blocks are the punches 122, 124 and 126 securely fixed in punch holders generally indicated as 128, 130 and 132', respectively. Punch holders 128, 130 and 132 are secured to a punch holder plate 134 by some means such as screws 136. The punch holder plate is in turn secured to the forging press slide (not shown) so that the plate 134 and the punch holders are raised and lowered as a unit with the forging press slide on each operating cycle of the press.

To obtain greater clarity, dial 70 has not been shown in Figures through 14, however, referring to Figures 1 and 2, it may be seen that dial 70 rotates just above the die blocks and die shoe cover 66 with suflicient clearance to allow unimpeded rotation.

The punch holders are conventional and their specific structure set forth in detail in U.S. Patent No. 2,657,403, per se, forms no part of this invention.

As previously pointed out the dial is intermittently rotated by conventional camming arrangement with the drive gears. The camming arrangement is so adjusted that the dial will rotate, in steps, a distance equal to one dial sector. As is shown in Figure l, the dial receives a blank 40' in pocket 68 of one dial sector 104 during a stationary period of said dial. During a step of intermittent rotation, the dial will then carry blank 40' to the second forming station generally indicated at 72 where the dial is held stationary for the second forming operation occurring during a downward stroke of the press. The next intermittent rotation of the dial carries the blank to a turning station, generally indicated at 74, between two forming stations. The dial is again held stationary during the downward or forming stroke of the press. During this downward stroke, a turnover mechanism, described in detail hereinafter, is actuated to rotate the blank 40 180, blank 40 remaining within the pocket 68 during this operation. During the next intermittent rotation of the dial the blank 40 is carried to the next or third forming station 76 where a third forming operation, to be described hereinafter, is performed on the blank. The blank is carried in intermittent steps to the next forming station, or stations and thence to theejecting station.

Limit switches Mounted on the die shoe cover, Figure l, are two limit switch assemblies, provided to prevent the operation of the press when no blank is carried to an operating station. These limit switch assemblies are substantially identical in structure and operation as those described in United States Patent No. 2,657,403. Briefly, the limit switch assemblies, indicated generally at and 142, include follower jaws 144'and-146, respectively, whose inner faces contact blanks 40' carried in the dial sector pockets. As long as a blank is in each pocket of the dial between the first forming station and the ejecting station, the follower jaws are maintained a predetermined distance from the dial sector outer edge and the limit switches are in turn maintained in a press operative position. Should a pocket fail to receive, or lose a blank, the follower jaws will move toward the dial sector under a biasing action to actuate the limit switch to an in-' operative position and stop the press.

The follower jaw 144 of the limit switch assembly 140 located between forming stations 72 and 76 is modified to include a specially formed channel 148 on its lower surface and in the edge facing the dial a cut-out 150 is provided to enable proper clearance space for mounting the turnover mechanism between forming stations 72 and 76, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

Turnover station Y The turnover station indicated generally at 74 is located between the second and third forming stations. The arrangement of the turnover mechanism 160 and its component parts, as indicated by head 162 and ratchet mechanism 164, are shown in their relation to the remaining components of the press in Figures 1, 2, 2A and 3. The head 162 consists of a barrel bearing 166 disposed in a recess 168 formed in the cover plate 66 and is fastened thereto by suitable means such as bolts 170. Journalled within the barrel bearing 166 is a cylindrical blank turnover member or barrel 172 having its axis of rotation lying on a radius of dial sector 104 and in a plane passing transverse to the dial. axis and midway between the top and bottom sides of dial sectors 104. A slot 174 of .sufiicient' width to allow the dial sector to pass therethrough is formed in the end of cylindrical member 172.

An additional recess 176, adjoining recess 168, and of semi-cylindrical shape is formed in cover plate 66 and extends radially toward the axis of the dial ending in a vertical shoulder 178 substantially the same distance from the dial axis as the inner side of dial sector pocket 68. The diameter of cylindrical member 172 is sufficiently less than the width of pocket 68 to enable rotation of the head within the pocket. A cap member 180 is suitably fastened by means such as screws 181 to the face of barrel bearing 166 which is adjacent dial sectors 104, and has a semi-cylindrical cut-out portion in its lower surface, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, which is adjacent to and closely surrounds cylindrical member 172. The lower surfaces include two substantially straight portions parallel and adjacent to the top face of the dial sectors. The portion 182 on the blank receiving edge being slightly beveled to allow unimpeded entry of the blank into the slotted cylindrical member. Cap 180 extends from the face of the barrel bearing 166 a distance substantially equal to the depth of a pocket 68 and when the dial is held stationary, will cooperate with the cover plate and a dial sector to define a cylindrical chamber consisting of recess 176, dial pocket 68 and cut-out 184 within which member 172 may rotate. The cylindrical member 172 is so positioned during rotation of the dial that dial sector 104, carrying blanks 40, will pass through slot 174 with no interference. When the dial is stationary the pocket 68, carrying a blank 40', will bracket the cylindrical member 172, the blank 40 will be positioned within the slot 174 and its position relative to the dial sector will be reversed when head 162 is rotated 180 by mechanism to be hereinafter described. After rotating 180, the head will again be in position to enable dial sector 104 carrying blank 40, which has just been turned over, to pass through slot 174 and transfer nut blank 40' to the next forming station.

As will be seen in Figure 1, the mounting arrangement of the turnover head positions the head within the cut- 7; out portion 150; of follower. jaw 144- and the: turnover head drive shaft192' passes'through channel 148 formed on the lower surface of follower jaw 144.

With reference to Figures 1 through 9 the turnover mechanism and its component parts will be described in detail. The barrel bearing 166 has a through bore 186 receiving the turnover member or barrel 172 and includes aslot 188 out from its under surface to receive a collar 190i surrounding the cylindrical turnover member or barrel172 for maintaining the proper axial position of the turnover member. within the bearing block. The barrel 172 has an axial bore 191 formed in the end oppositeto slot 174 for receiving rotatable drive shaft 192. The collar 190, turnover. member 172 and drive shaft 192 are keyedtogether for unitary rotation by. suitable means such as set screw 194. The-barrel bearing 166 has an additional bore 196, to the rear of slot 188, passing from its. upper surface whore-.186. Within bore 196 is a spring-loaded leather plug198 bearing on barrel 172, held therein by spring means 200 and threaded plug 202 to provide means for braking barrel member 172. Any overthrow due to backlash in the gears between the ratchet and barrel is prevented by the frictional engage ment of this plug 198 with barrel 172.

The drive shaft 192 extends radially from the dial axis and parallel to dialsector 104 and connects to ratchet mechanism 164. by suitable coupling means such as the bayonet fitting 204, Figure 2.

The ratchet mechanism, described in full hereinafter, is mounted on frame member 56of the forging press by suitable means such as bolts 206. As indicated in Figures-l and 2, an oscillatable member or pawlcarrier 208 contained in ratchet mechanism 164- is connected to a reciprocating means, which is suitably interconnected with the operating mechanismof the forging press, and in the illustrated preferred structure the connection is made to punch holder plate 134 as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. The connecting means consists of bracket 210 suitably fastened. to punch plate 134 by means such as bolts 212. Bracket 210 has forked arms 214, best seen in Figure 1; straddling the knife arm of a safety link 216 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bracket and safety link 216 are interconnected by suitable shear means such as shear pins 218 designed to fail and prevent damage to the turnover mechanism in case the mechanism jams. A bore 220 is formed in the end portion of safety link 216 and receives the L-shaped end member 222 of universal coupling 224. The end 222 is held within bore 220 by suitable means such as set screw 226. The other end member 228 of the universal coupling is fastened to an elastic coupling indicated generally at 230, which will be describedin detail hereinafter. The elastic coupling is connected bythreaded member 232' to a threaded bore in the butt end 234 of forklevcr 236. The fork ends of fork lever-236 straddle and pivotally connect to an extending lug 240 on pawl carrier. 208,.

The, connection between the punch plate 134, and pawl carrier 208 may be adjusted by means of threaded memher 232 which is the threaded portion of a member of the elastic coupling. When the desired adjustment is obtained the member 232 is locked to fork lever 236 by suitable means such as lock nut 242.

The'reciprocating linkage indicated by elements 210- 238 is connected to the turnover head drive. shaft 192 through a mechanism adapted to convert reciprocatory motion to uni-directional intermittent rotary motion, the illustrated and preferred mechanism being a ratchet mechanism as disclosed generally by reference numeral 164. The ratchet mechanism comprises base plate 244 suitably attached to. aconnecting plate 246 by means such as screws 248, the connecting plate in turn being fastened to frame member 56 by suitable means such as bolts 206. Atthe front edge of base plate 244 a stroke limit stop is located, .consisting of.a bolt 250 screw threadedinto an off-set portion 252 of the base plate. As may be seen this adjustable means limits the downward movement alignment and perpendicular to the faces of the front and back housing plates respectively, for receiving the ends of a stationary arbor shaft 262, shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7. As indicated in Figure 6 the ends of. the arbor shaft are threaded to receive nuts 268. In axial alignment and adjacent to said threaded portions 264, cylindrical bosses 270 are shaped to lit-snugly within holes 258 and 260 in front and back housing plates. Between the bosses 270 prises two cylindrical portions to the bosses 270; The eccentric arbor portions are of greater. diameter than are the bosses thus forming shoulders 274 and 276 adjacent boss 270, for correctly spacing the arbor portions relative to the front and back housing plates clividual units and joined into a single unit by means of. bolts 284. As may be seen in Figure 9 the ratchet wheelv has six. teeth 286 formed. on its peripheral surface, the purpose of the teeth and number of teeth will, be ex.- plained hereinafter. Immediately adjacent ratchet wheel 282,v pawl carrier 208 is journalled on arbor portion 273. Figures 1, 2 and 3 disclose the top, sideand front views respectfully of the pawl carrier. pointed out the pawl carrier has a lug the front edge and is connected to fork lever 236 by means of bolt 239. The lug 240 may be integral with the pawl carrier or may be separable.

The pawl carrier, as seen inFigure 3, in its preferred form, is a block of suitable material generally indicated at 208. having an. adjustable connecting pin 288 whose head forms the lug 240 before-mentioned. The pin portron 290 of. the connecting pin is inserted inbore 292 drilled from one edge of the pawl carrier in the major longitudinal direction. A hole 295 perpendicular to the slde face of the pawl carrier intersects bore 292 and contains a bearing. ring 296 having an oil groove formed therein. vertically elf-set from the axis of the. bore smaller bore 298. receiving a headed arbor pin 300 seen 1n Flgures 1 and3 which journals the pawl 302. The connecting pin 288 and headed. arbor pin 300 are fastened 1n the pawl carrier by suitable means such. as set screws indicated at 303 and 304. An oil hole is formed As previously 292 is a between the top edge of the pawl carrier and bore. 292..

At the lower corner and. the opposite end from thelug 240 is located a spring post 306, the purpose of. which will presently be seen.

The pawl carrier is journalled by bearing ring 296on the arbor portion 273 of arbor shaft 262. As seen in Figure 3 the relationship of the pawl to the ratchet wheel enables the pawl to engage a wheel tooth during a downward reciprocation of. the pawl carrier. During the upward movement of the pawl carrier the pawl rides over the inclined back faces of. the ratchet wheel teeth. A- spring post 308 is fastened to the lower edge of. the pawl and a tension spring 310 of suitable strength is. connected between the pawl spring post and spring post 306 on the pawl carrier, thus insuring proper engagement of the pawl with they ratchet.

To preventinadvertent movement of. the ratchet wheel and gear during the return stroke of the pawl a leather 254 and back housing plate 256. Drilled holes 258 and 260 are located'in axial an arbor portion com 272 and 273 eccentricv 254 and 256. The eccentricity of the arbor portions allows minute adjustments between 240 formed on Between the lug 240 and the hole 295 and.

9 brake band 310 is provided to bear on the cylindrical periphery of the brake wheel 280. One end of the leather band is held by suitable means to the connecting plate such as the screw shown at 314. The other end connects to a spring 316 fastened to a spring post 318 mounted to the rear of the front housing plate, thus insuring proper tensioning of the leather brake band.

At the lower front corner of the front housing plate a gear wheel 320, having an integral shaft 322, is suitably journalled by bushing 324 (Figure 2). The integral shaft of the gear wheel 320 has an axial bore of sufiicient diameter to receive shaft 192. The end of shaft 322 is internally beveled to form a bell mouth 326 and a diametrical slot 328 is formed along a substantial portion of shaft 322, thus adapting the shaft to act as the female member of bayonet drive coupling 204.

The arrangement of and the association of the specific elements of the mechanism have been related to cause shaft 322 to turn 180 each time the reciprocating linkage makes a downward stroke. The connecting linkage between the punch plate and the pawl carrier 208 is so adjusted to cause the ratchet wheel to rotate a distance equal to the space between two teeth or one-sixth of a complete turn of the ratchet wheel. With a ratchet wheel having six teeth the gear ratio between gear wheel 278 and gear wheel 320 is designed at 3:1. Hence the ratchet wheel turning one-sixth of a turn will turn gear wheel 278 one-sixth of a turn which in turn rotates gear 320 one-half of a turn or 180. Gear wheel 320 being directly connected to blank turnover member 172 by shaft 192 will thus rotate the blank turnover member 180. The values recited and disclosed are exemplary only, inasmuch as the number of teeth and the proper gear ratio therefor, may be changed as desired.

Looking now at Figure 3 which discloses a sectional view of the connection between the punch plate and the turnover ratchet bar, a resilient coupling is shown at 230 and is utilized to cushion the shock occurring at the limit of a downward stroke of the reciprocating means occurring where pawl carrier 208 meets limit stop 250. The main body of the resilient coupling consists of an elongated cup-shaped member 330 having a hole 332 formed in the bottom of the cup. A cap screw 334 is passed through the hole 332 with the head of the cap screw retained in the cup-shaped'member. A compression spring 336 seats on the top of the cap screw head and is retained within the cup by a cylindrical plug 338 held in the open end of the cup-shaped member 330 by suitable means such as set-screws 340. Integrally formed with plug 338 and axially aligned with the cap screw 334 is a connecting post 342 having a reduced mid-portion. Connecting post 342 is inserted in a bore in end member 228 of the universal coupling 224 and suitably held therein by means such as set-screws 344. The threaded portion 232 of cap screw 334 protrudes from the lower end of coupling 230 and is threaded in the butt end of fork lever 236 as hereinbefore described.

Forming stations The first or preforming station 48 is located outside the circumference of dial 70 as is clearly shown in Figure 1. Except for location, the first forming station is similar to the other operating stations in that the punch is mounted in the same manner as the punches at the other operating stations, so that all of the operations are performed on each pressure stroke of the press.

The die cavity 350 of the first forming die block 46, Figures 1, 10, 15 and 16, has a concave cross section clearly seen in Figure 16. In the direction of the feed of slugs 40 the cavity is slightly longer than the length of one slug to allow for outward forming in the lengthwise directions. It will also be seen from Figures 15 and 16 that in the direction transverse to the feed or lengthwise direction the cavity is substantially wider between cavity edges 352 and 354 than the diameter of the slug, the radius of the concave surface being larger than that of a slug with the outer edges 352 and 354 ;of.t.he, cavity turned inward at a sharper angle to enable-the, start of a chamfer on the lower face of the slug. When the slug 40 is fed into die cavity 350 it enters the cavity lengthwise on its cylindrical surface and fits loosely in cavity 350 in the lengthwise direction; it is then accurately centered in this direction by operation of the punch in its forming stroke. The slug is also centered in the trans-v verse direction since its cylindrical surface will lie in contact with the lowest point of the concave surface of die cavity 350 which lowest point is in the center of the cavity and during the forming operation the slug will therefore lie spaced midway between, and with its axis.

parallel to, edges 352 and 354 of the cavity.

The punch 356 for the first forming station, Figures 10 and 17, is provided on its bottom or operating surface:

with a concave channel 358. This channel functions to initially center the slug and then to deform the slug- As is seen in Figure 10; mounted so that the length of its channel: is .atright angles to the axis of the slug 40. It will be.

shown in Figures 22 and 23. punch 356 is seen that on an operating stroke the first forming punch will center slug 40 axially and swage it almost to outside size, and at the same time partially form chamfers on the top surface.

Figures 20 and 21 show enlarged plan and end views,

respectfully of slug 40 as it enters the first forming sta.-'

tion 48. The slug is oriented in Figure 20 in the exact position in which it will lie in die cavity shown to the left,

of the slug and after the pressure stroke form a substantial chamfer as illustrated. Thus, during the first forming operation cylindrical slug 40 is partially flattened and partially chamfered without completely coming into contact with the entire concave surface of die cavity. This avoids over-forming and leaves room for the metal to be displaced by the second forming and counter sinking operations without causing an up-flow of metal. Thus the flow of metalin contact with tool surfaces in every operation is always down and laterally. This puts less strain on the punches and dies, requires less power and stresses the metal to a less degree than does an upward flow, in turn providing longer life of the dies, punches and press, greater efficiency of operation and improved blanks.

Second forming station As explained hereinbefore, after a slug has been par tially formed in the first forming station it is pushed out of die block 46 by conventional means such as push rod 50 and because of the concavity of the die cavity 350, the blank will be raised up from the cavity and pushed into channel 51 as described hereinbefore. From channel 51 die blank 40' is pushed into a pocket in the dial sector 104 and is then transferred by dial 70 to operating station 72 where the second forming operation is performed. At station 72 die block 108 has a die cavity 368 of square cross section similar to the blank shown in Figure 25. The base of die cavity 368 has a flat bottom and sides slightly tapered to partially form a chamfer on the bottom side of the blank. The punch 370 has a square cross section and is made to closely fit into the die cavity as is best shown in Figure 11. The face of the punch has a substantially flat bottom 372 with sides 374'which impart a substantially finished chamfer to the four edges of the top of the blank as can be seen at the left of Figure 24. In die block 108 is a cylin- I 11- drical bore 376 carrying a knock-out pin 378 which is reciprocated by conventional means and serves to knockthe blank 40 out of the die cavity at the end of an operating stroke and return it to the dial notch 68 which conveysit to the next station. The upper end of knock-out pin 378- in its normal position, is always even with or slightly above the bottom surface of the cavity 368 thus preventing chipping of the bottom of the cavity which may take place if the end of the knock-out pin is positioned below the bottom surface.

Leaving the second forming station 72 the blank 40 has been swaged to further flatten it and chamfer its upper surface as may be seen from Figures 24 and 25 which show enlarged end and plane views respectively, of the blank after the second forming operation. The die cavity at the second forming station is slightly larger than the blank 40' that is delivered to it from the first forming station and its dimensions are such that the blank is swagedto size during this operation. It will be noted that the outward flow of metal has further squared the top of the blank by almost filling the space left by the chamfered edges, and has flowed down and outwardly to nearly fill the space caused by the curvature of the bottom. As will be seen from the end view of Figure 24, even though this how of metal has caused a partial flattening of the bottom, some curvature and chamfering remains so that room is left for the further displacement of metal which will occur during the next forming operation;

Third forming station At the third. forming station. 76 die block 110 has a square; cavity 380 of the same dimensions as that of Figure 11. The punch 382 for station 76 is also square in crossv section, and closely fits square die cavity 380. The blank 40' after it comes from second forming station 72; passes to a turnover station 74 which turns the blank. 180 in sector pocket 68 prior to passing on to third forming station 76. The bottom of the blank as shown in Figure 25 now becomes the top of the blank as it fits into die cavity 380. After the forming operation of the punch 382 which at this station may have a fiat-face, the metal displaced has flowed out to fill in the spaces at the upper edge of the blank which still remained after the second forming operation. The face that is on the bottom of the die cavity retains its previously formed shape.

If desired and as shown in Figure 12 a countersinking. operation may be performed at the third forming station. This is accomplished by having a countersinking portion 386 onthe tip of the punch 382 and a countersinking punch 388 located in the cavity 380' of the die 110. If the blank is to be countersunk at this station the vertical position of the punch 382 is adjusted so the metal displaced by the countersinking operation will" fill the cavity left between the punch and the die cavity' as desired to give a properly shaped blank. The lower countersi'nking punch 388 in this instance also performs the same function as the knockout pin 378 at station 72.

It'will be seen that the operation in station number Piercing and burnishing station At the fourth forming station 78 a piercing and burnishing-operation is performed. As-will be seen in Fi'gure 13: there: is: no die: cavity in die block 112. Die blank 40 is centered and held in position by the dial notch 68 since the blank, as prepared at the third forming station, forms its own die for the piercing operation. Also, since there is no die cavity in the die block 78, no knockout pin is needed at this station to return the blank to the dial notch 68. The punch 390 at this station is a piercing and burnishing punch which removes the small slug of metal 392, Figure 12 and 26, remaining between the countersinks after the third forming operation. The piercing head 394 of the punch 390, Figure 13, is provided with a burnishing band. to burnish the hole punched in the piercing operation. Head 394 of punch 390 is also formed with a conical end provided to trap oil and effect a hydraulic piercing action. As is well known, cooling streams of oil are normally played over surfaces. of machine tools during their operation and the excess oil will collect in the countersinks of the nut blanks. A portion of this oil becoming trapped between the punch and the blank will effect the hydraulic piercing.

Mounted just above the dial 70 is a stripper 396 located as shown in Figures 13 and 14, and fastened to the die shoe cover 66 by some conventional means (not shown). Stripper 396 includes openings at the piercing and ejecting stations so the punches at these stations can pass through it with a close fit. The purpose of stripper 396 at the piercing station 78 is to knock back into the dial notch 68 blanks that tend to stock to the punch 390 after the operating stroke. In order to prevent the punched out slug 392 from likewise sticking to the punch 390 and being carried upward, a spring operated pin 398 is provided. in the wall of die block 112 as illustrated in Figure 13. As punch 390 reaches its lower limit the punch and punched out slug 392 will push pin 398 to the right as viewed in Figure 13 against the action of its spring 400. When punch 390 is raised, pin 398 will be pushed to the left by spring 400 and knock loose any slug tending to stick to the punch. The slug 392 will then fall through passage way 482 into a suitable bin or receptacle (not shown).

Ejedtion stations station. No die block is needed at this station since the only operation performed is the final ejection of blank 40 from dial 70. This is accomplished by means of a punch 44M which serves to push the blank 40 out of the dial notch 68 so that it will fall through passageway 406 into a suitable bin or hopper (not shown). From the bin or hopper the blanks are carried or mechanically conveyed to the machine where they areto be tapped. As hereinbefore explained, punch 404 passes through the stripper 396, Figures 13 and 14, which serves to knockoff blanks tending to stick to punch 404 after its operating stroke.

As will be seen in Figures 10 through 13 the punches at the various operating stations may be individually adjusted in the vertical direction, this adjustment being explained in United States Letters Patent No. 2,657,403.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that thisinvention provides an elficient solution to the problem of performing an operation on an exposed surface of a nut blank, such as chamfering, countersinking, and reerning by reversing the blank so that identical or similar operations may be performed on opposite surfaces of the blank. By means of the invention such a turnover or reversal of the nut blank may be accomplished without removing the blank from the transfer means thus eliminating the difiiculties of losing a blank or having a blank' jam when being removed and replaced into the transfer means, as hereinbefore set forth.

It is thus apparent that higher quality blanks, with closer control on chamfering and dimensions, may be produced at a considerably higher speed than is attained 13 by the methods of the priorart. This will affect a very substantialsavings in the cost of producing nut blanks.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the mean ing and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a dial feed forging press for making square nut blanks from slugs of round wire stock, an intermittently rotatable dial having substantially rectangular pockets in the periphery thereof for holding a blank, a blank turn-over mechanism operatively synchronized with said dial to operate during a stationary period of intermittent dial rotation having a rotatable cylindrical slotted member arranged with respect to said dial so that the dial periphery passes through said slot upon rotation of the dial and a pocket in said dial periphery brackets the rotatable member when the dial is stationary.

2. An apparatus for making nut blanks from slugs of wire stock comprising a plurality of forming stations, a movable holding element adjacent said forming stations for receiving a blank from a first forming station and feeding the blank successively to second and third forming stations, said holding element includingequally spaced apart means for holding and feeding a plurality of blanks, means to move said holding element in intermittent steps whereby the holding element is held stationary during a forming operation, said means for holding and feeding a plurality of blanks being spaced apart one half the distance of the space between the second and third forming stations so that during each forming operation an idle holding means is located midway between the second and third forming stations, and blank-turn-over means operatively synchronized with said means to move said holding element and located adjacent the holding element midway between said second and third forming stations for reversing the position of the blank while said blank remains within said holding means during the intermittent stationary period of said holding element, said turnover means being so disposed within the path of movement of said blanks between said second and third forming stations that said holding and feeding means advances each blank to said turnover means seriatim.

3. In a dial feed forging press for making blanks from slugs of round wire stock, an intermittently rotatable dial having equidistantly spaced pockets in the periphery thereof for holding a blank, a pair of forming stations spaced apart a distance equal to twice the spacing of said pockets around the periphery of said dial, means for intermittently rotating said dial an angular distance equal to the space between pockets and for holding said dial stationary during a forming operation and blank turnover means structurally independent of and adjacent the periphery of the dial including reversible blank receiving means in the path of blank movement and midway between said two forming stations said blank turnover means being operatively synchronized with the means for intermittently rotating the dial for alternate actuation for reversing the position of the blank during the intermittent stationary period of said dial.

4. An apparatus for making multiple dimensioned blanks from slugs of stock comprising a plurality of aligned forming stations, an intermittently operated holding and transfer means adjacent said aligned forming stations for receiving a blank and intermittently feeding the blank to successive aligned stations, and turn-over means structurally independent of said holding and transfer means and mounted intermediate two of said plurality of forming stations synchronized with and adjacent said intermittently operated holding and transfer means for reversing jthe position of the blank during periods when said holding and transfer means is stationary and while the blank remains in said holding and transfer means, said turnover means including reversible blank receiving means disposed in the path of blank movement between said two stations.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said hold,- ing and transfer means is an intermittently rotatable conveyor having a plurality of pockets in its periphery shaped to receive the blanks.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said blank turn-over means comprises an axially fixed rotatable element having one end bifurcated to receive a blank and being of such size to fit into and rotate within the pockets in said dial.

7. In a machine having a plurality of stations for working on nut blanks: a fixed support; an intermittently rotatable dial journalled on said support and having blank holding pockets in its outer periphery; blank turn-over means comprising a rotatable slotted element axially fixed relative to said support, arranged to coact with the periphery of said dial to allow a peripheral portion of the dial to pass through the slot when said dial rotates and being of such size to enable rotation thereof within a said pocket when the dial is stationary; and means synchronizing the dial and blank turn-over means to dispose a blank holding pocket in operative relation with said slotted element and to automatically rotate the turn-over means to reverse the position of the blank in said slot only when said dial is. stationary.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said blank turn-over means comprises a ratchet mechanism mounted on said support, interconnecting means between said ratchet mechanism and said rotatable slotted element, and said synchronizing means includes a reciprocable element connected to said ratchet mechanism.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein an elastic coupling means connects the reciprocable element to the ratchet mechanism.

10. In a machine for making multiple dimensioned blanks from slugs of stock, a plurality of successive forming stations each comprising a set of opposed work members, a reciprocable means carrying one of said work members of each set, a stationary means cooperating with said reciprocable means and carrying the others of said work members of said sets in opposed relation to the reciprocable work members, intermittently operated means disposed adjacent said stations for transferring a blank from one station to a succeeding station, and means fixed relative to said stationary means between a pair of successive stations operably synchronized with said intermittently operated means, operative when said intermittently operated means is stationary to reverse the position of the blank with respect to the opposed work members while the blank remains 'Within said intermittently operated means, said last named means including reversible blank receiving means disposed in the path of blank movement between said two stations.

11. In a machine as set forth in claim 10, four forming stations the first station having opposed work members shaped to deform the slug, the second station having opposed work members shaped to partially form and chamfer one face of the blank, the third forming station having opposed work members shaped to finish the form and chamfer the opposite face of the blank, the fourth forming station having opposed work members shaped to effect a piercing and reaming of the blank, the blank reversing means being located between the second and third forming stations.

12. In an apparatus having a plurality of spaced working stations for working on blanks, intermittently operated means for holding and transferring a blank to successive working stations, turn-over means mounted intermediate two of said plurality of spaced working stations disposed in the path of movement of a blank carried by said intermittently operated means to be operatively engaged by such a blank as it is moved by said intermittently operated means, said turnover means being synchronized with and adjacent said intermittently operated means for reversing the position of the blank While said intermittently operated means are stationary and while the blank is held in said intermittently operated means, and power operated means connected to furnish power to operate said intermittently operated means and said turn-over means.

13. In a machine for working blanks having a plurality of working stations, intermittently operated means including a flat plate having a notch in one edge for holding and intermittently moving a blank between stations, a blank turn-over mechanism mounted between two of said working stations including an axially fixed rotatable member slotted at one end disposed with its slotted end adapted to straddle a marginal portion along said one edge of said flat plate as said flat plate is intermittently moved between said two stations and, during a stationary period of said intermittently operated means when said plate is disposed between said two stations to be disposed adjacent said notch encompassing a blank within said notch and of a size to enable rotation within said notch; and mechanism synchronized with said intermittently operated means connected to said blank turn-over mechanism for rotating said rotatable member 180 within said notch when said fiat plate is stationary with said notch adjacent said rotatable member.

14. In a machine for working blanks as defined in claim 13 wherein said turn-over mechanism includes means which cooperate with the slotted end of the rotatable member and said flat plate to provide a substantially closed chamber for a blank in the end of the rotatable member during the stationary period of said fiat plate.

15. In a machine for working blanks having a plurality of working stations, intermittently operated means including a flat plate having a notch in one edge for holding and intermittently moving a blank between stations, reciprocable blank working means at each station connected and synchronized with said intermittently operated means whereby said reciprocable blank working means are moved in one direction while said intermittently operated means is stationary and moved in another direction while said intermittently operated means is operated, a blank turn-over mechanism mounted between two of said working stations including an axially fixed rotatable member slotted at one end disposed with its slotted end adapted to straddle a marginal portion along said one edge of said flat plate as said fiat plate is intermittently moved between said two stations and during a stationary period of said intermittently operated means when said plate is disposed between said two stations, to be disposed adjacent said notch, encompassing the blank within the notch and of a size to permit rotation within said notch, said mechanism being connected to be operated by reciprocation of said reciprocable blank working means only in said one direction to rotate said rotatable member 180 during each stationary period of said intermittently operated means.

16. In a nut blank forming machine, a transfer device having blank receiving pockets at spaced locations, means for intermittently advancing said transfer device to position said pockets in succession at a plurality of stations spaced a predetermined distance apart, and means at an intermediate one of said stations including a reversible blank receiving means disposed in the path of blank movement between a pair of said stations and operatively engaged by a blank moved into said one intermediate station, said second named means being synchronized with said intermittent transfer device advancing means for automatically reversing the position of the blank in its pocket while at said one station.

17. In a nut blank forming machine, an intermittently movable transfer device having a plurality of spaced blank receiving pockets, means providing a surface beneath said device, and means providing an automatic blank reversing station comprising a jaw member embracing an edge of said device and having a lower jaw face flush with said surface during the periods when said device is being moved, means for intermittently advancing said device to move a blank deposited in one of said pockets along said surface and onto said jaw face, and means operated in synchronism with said intermittent advancing means for rotating said jaw member through to reverse the blank therein during the dwell period of said transfer device.

18. In a nut forming machine having a plurality of blank working stations, intermittently operated transfer means for holding and intermittently moving a blank between successive stations, blank working means at each station synchronized with said transfer means, a blank turn-over mechanism mounted between two of said working stations including an axially fixed rotatable jaw held stationary as said transfer means is moved between said two stations, said transfer means being adapted to position a blank thereon within said jaw during a stationary period of said transfer means, and means synchronized with said blank working means and said intermittently operable transfer means to rotate said jaw 180 during each said stationary period of said transfer means to reverse the position of said blank in said transfer means.

19. In combination with a forging press for making multiple dimensioned blanks from slugs of wire stock, means for intermittently feeding blanks seriatim through a series of stations, a blank turnover mechanism comprising a work blank engaging means and means rotatably mounting said work blank engaging means in axially fixed relation with respect to its axis of rotation at an intermediate one of said stations in the path of blank movement into said intermediate one station so that said work blank engaging means is operative to receive said blanks as they are moved into said one station by said feeding means, and means for actuating said turnover mechanism while said feeding means is at rest.

20. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said actuating means comprises a ratchet mechanism connected to said work blank engaging means and motion transmitting mechanism interconnecting said feeding means and said ratchet mechanism.

21. In combination, a workpiece turnover station, a work-station at each side of said turnover station, an intermittently operative conveyor for positioning workpieces at said stations seriatim, and means including a workpiece engaging means at said turnover station disposed in the path of workpiece movement with said conveyor into said turnover station and operatively engaged by a workpiece moved by said conveyor, and means operative in timed relation to the movement of said conveyor to reverse the position of said workpiece engaging means to invert on said conveyor a workpiece engaged by said workpiece engaging means between the periods of intermittent movement of said conveyor.

22. In a nut blank forming press, means defining a pair of forming stations and an intermediate turnover station, an intermittently operative conveyor for positioning blanks at said stations seriatim, and means operative upon a blank on said conveyor at said turnover station to invert each blank relative to said conveyor including intermittently operativereversible work blank engaging means disposed at said turnover station in the path of workpiece movement between said stations, and means for actuating said blank engaging means between the periods of conveyor operation.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mullen May 29, 1928 Taylor July 13, 1937 5 Nichols July 20, 1937 Jones Aug. 23, 1938 18 Chandler July 18, 1939 Friedman Feb. 20, 1951 Burdsall Mar. 6, 1951 Eade Nov, 3, 1953 Cybulski May 4, 1954 Schaeffer Sept. 21, 1954 

